11
Jan
Hydration is an important part of the diet for dogs whose urine has tested positive for struvite crystals. You can try a mix of dog food and the people food if you turn into something more stocky that can be mixed with the dry food more easily as opposed to solids think bread for example that your dog can easily separate from the dog food.
The preventive diet is NOT the same as the diet that promotes dissolution of the stones.
What can i feed a dog with struvite crystals. One way to help in dogs with struvite crystals is to eat a low-protein diet because protein is a heavy strain on dogs kidneys. Note that feeding dogs low protein diets does not mean they will not develop urinary tract stones. However some studies in cats have shown that eating a high protein diet can increase the risk of bladder stones.
And now he is forming struvite crystals in his urine which indicates that the food he is being fed is creating an alkaline urine pH OVER 7. RAW food diets for dogs will create the proper pH for a carnivore which is pH 6-65. Raw meat also contains vitamin C which will help to boost his immune system.
What can dogs with struvite stones not eat. Diet plays a crucial role in preventing future bladder stone formation as well. To decrease the chances of your dog developing bladder stones or having them return once dissolved you should avoid feeding foods that contain high levels of oxalate such as spinach sweet potatoes organ meat and brown rice.
Feeding a homemade dog food for struvite bladder stones recipe can help to prevent these stones from reforming in your dogs bladder. Struvite bladder stones are made of magnesium ammonium. Feed your pet an acidic diet with animal-based protein sources.
This will help to maintain the acid in your pets urine that is necessary to avoid the buildup of struvite crystals. Avoid a diet that is vegetarian or cereal-based and likely to cause alkaline urine which promotes struvite crystals. I saw a question and answer for homemade dog food for dogs with struvite crystals the vet was Michael Salkin.
The recipe was with beef if I used chicken would the remaining 8ngredients remain the sam. Dry food is the worst thing you can feed a dog with crystals. Best is raw dehydrated or canned.
I had a dog with struvite crystals he did not go on a script diet. If you must feed dry please add some canned to it plus warm water to make a stew. Its very important that you make sure he gets enough liquid ample opportunity to urinate.
Increase your cats or dogs water intake. The less concentrated the urine the less likely struvite crystals will form. Feed your pet an acidic diet with animal-based protein sources.
This will help to maintain the acid in your pets urine that is necessary to avoid the buildup of struvite crystals. I saw a question and answer for homemade dog food for dogs with struvite crystals the vet was Michael Salkin. The recipe was with beef if I used chicken would the remaining 8ngredients remain the sam.
What can a dog with struvite stones eat. Cranberries are good for urinary tract infection prevention which makes them good for preventing the formation of struvite crystals in dogs. They stop bacteria from adhering to the tissue that lines the urinary tract and bladder.
You can also use fresh and natural cranberry juice or cranberry capsules. Hydration is an important part of the diet for dogs whose urine has tested positive for struvite crystals. Ensure that your dog drinks enough water daily by adding salt to the diet to increase her thirst.
Give her the chance to urinate frequently. The additional water intake also dilutes the urine reducing the concentration of minerals. What you need to do is start feeding a diet that typically creates acidic urine a low pH so struvite crystals in dogs dont form.
You should be very consistent with the diet over the course of 4 weeks and then test the urine for crystals. If there are none then continue with that diet and continue to be consistent. Some dogs with struvite crystals bladder stones are medically managed by a feeding program that is designed to dissolve crystals by acidifying the urine.
Although other treatment methods like surgery or lithotripsy can be used calculolytic diets are chosen for reasons like financial constraint of the owner and aging or poor health of the dog. What should i feed my dog with struvite crystals. While this dog was on grain free high protein kibble it was still kibble.
Even a high meat kibble is only around 30 meat maximum. Pets fed a meat-based diet will make urine with a lower pH. Struvite crystals will not form in low-pH urine.
Dogs that have experienced struvite bladder stones will often be fed a therapeutic diet for life. Diets lower in protein phosphorus and magnesium and promote acidic urine are recommended. The preventive diet is NOT the same as the diet that promotes dissolution of the stones.
To reduce urine pH which is the goal in most struvite situations you must feed your pet a Veterinary Prescription food like Royal Canin. Struvite stones can often be completely dissolved in both dogs and cats using special diets. These diets encourage greater water consumption contain controlled amounts of protein and certain minerals and also alter the acidity of the urine.
You can try a mix of dog food and the people food if you turn into something more stocky that can be mixed with the dry food more easily as opposed to solids think bread for example that your dog can easily separate from the dog food. Your dog wont adjust to this from the 1st meal but eventually will cave to its need to eat. The dog has been on a Science Diet dog food since the first surgery.
On Christmas day he was unable to pass urine. An ultra sound showed struvite crystals backed up like billard balls in his urethra. Struvite crystals do not require a change in diet.
Because struvite crystals do not pose a problem unless the dog has a urinary tract infection there is no required treatment for crystals including dietary changesIf the dog does have a urinary tract infection a prescription dog food will not cure it. Similarly you may ask how do you get rid of struvite crystals in dogs.